BIO: Will H. Hiller, Wyoming Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, PA & NY Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB & JO Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ________________________________________________ Chaffee, Amasa Franklin. History of the Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. New York: Eaton & Mains, 1904, pages 341-342. ________________________________________________ Hiller, Will H., was born on November 20, 1854, in Binghamton, N.Y. He is the son of Rev. Fred L. Hiller, who was an honored member of this Conference about twenty-six years. He attributes his conversion to the gracious influence of many Christian men and women. From early boyhood he believed that if he were ever converted he would become a preacher. He determined to study law, and from that time until conversion he battled with conviction, doubt, and unbelief. While attending Wyoming Seminary he went forward for prayers many nights. It seemed to him a hopeless search for light. Darkness deepened, until it seemed as if every truth he had ever known was lost. On the eleventh evening, while others were testifying to being save, he was advised to "Rise and tell the people you are converted, and you will then feel that you are." That advice smothered the last spark of hope, and with the remark, "The whole thing is a fraud," he left the altar. From that time on he began to study infidel and atheistic books, turned to the world, and tried to live for the present. He was stricken some time later with black fever, but was delivered from fatal results, he believes, in answer to prayer. Convalescing, he believed that the sickness had unfitted him for professional life, and accordingly learned the trade of house and fresco painting. In the winter of 1880 he went to Leadville, Colo., and on a Sunday morning in April he went to the Methodist Episcopal Church. As the pastor, Rev. Thomas Uzzell, proceeded with his sermon the truths taught in childhood enthroned themselves in his heart, and he then and there gave himself without reserve to God and joined the Church at once. The following summer he spent among the cowboys on the plains. He returned East and married Miss F. May Jones, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., on August 3, 1882, and settled again in Binghamton, uniting with the Tabernacle Church. Here he opened an insurance office, but fancied that the way was opening for entrance to the bar. About this time he was called to Milford, N.Y., to supply his father's pulpit a couple of Sundays on account of his father's illness. In the meantime he had been given exhorter's license by Rev. E. W. Caswell. Unexpectedly his father's sickness continued, and he remained at Milford and supplied the pulpit the whole winter. The old conviction concerning the ministry reasserted itself, and he decided to give himself to the ministry. His educational privileges were such as the public schools afforded, a short term at Wyoming Seminary, his father's study, and about two years in a law office. He has two children - Fred Neil and Margaret. After supplying Beach Lake one year he joined the Conference in 1886. His pastoral record is as follows: 1886, Beach Lake; 1887-91, Uniondale and Dundaff; 1892-96, Parsons; 1897-1903, Parrish Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.